MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Senator O’Ban calls for public hearings on train derailment

Jan 5, 2018, 9:56 AM

tax credit, Senator O'ban, Sound Transit, train derailment...

Senator Steve O'Ban. (TVW)

(TVW)

Senator Steve O’Ban is calling for public hearings into the Amtrak train derailment that killed three people in December.

Photos of the train derailment in Pierce County

Senator O’Ban, who sits on the Senate Transportation Committee, says he doesn’t want to wait for the full NTSB investigation — which could take months — before asking questions.

He wants the Washington State Department of Transportation and Amtrak to be part of the public hearings. His questions include why positive train control wasn’t fully operational before the route began; why the curve in DuPont wasn’t straightened as early plans suggested; and what kind of training took place for the crew.

“We’ve got to ask these tough question. I mean, that’s our role. Even if we find somehow that DOT did all of its due diligence we have a responsibility to ask these tough questions after two derailments in about a year.”

Senator O’Ban says though the Republican party doesn’t control the Senate he believes a public hearing for the derailment will receive bi-partisan support.

On Thursday, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao sent a letter to all executive officers of the nation’s Class I railroads. She’s pushing them to implement positive train control by the end of this year. Officials argue the safety system could have helped prevent the crash by automatically slowing the speeding train as it entered a curve in the track.

The National Transportation Safety Board hasn’t spoken with the 55-year-old engineer and 48-year-old conductor who was training during the time of the derailment. The NTSB says damage from the Dec. 18 crash is estimated at more than $40 million.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: Lewis and Clark High School students thought quickly to save their track coach's life....

Julia Dallas

Spokane high school students save track coach’s life after his heart stops

Two Spokane high school students used their quick thinking and past training to save their track coach's life last week.

37 minutes ago

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

13 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

14 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

15 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

16 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

17 hours ago

Senator O’Ban calls for public hearings on train derailment